Litigation

Silicosis mass tort fraud update

By Ted Frank

There are between 5,122-5,831 individuals with silicosis claims in a consolidated mass tort litigation in Harris County, Texas. But in 2005, the Texas legislature passed a law requiring such claimants to provide medical evidence of a "minimum level of impairment."

The results? Only 54 of the over 5000 plaintiffs even attempted to meet the standard—and only 21 of those 54 actually did so. [Legal Newsline]

In other words, over 99% of the lawsuits brought were meritless, but without tort reform, the lawyers would have overwhelmed defendants and effectively stole from the innocent in the resulting settlements. And with such a guaranteed cash cow, there would be more than 5000 plaintiffs: new suits dried up once standards were established.

But don't count on any of the trial lawyers involved being brought to justice for their attempted fraud on the court.

Full post as published by Point of Law on July 21, 2010 (boomark / email).